A EuroMillions winner has unveiled plans to build a children’s theme park at his huge country estate.
Adrian Bayford, an ex-postman, scooped £148 million on the lottery 12 years ago with his then-wife Gillian and has spent 2024 investing the winnings into his estate on the border of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.
Earlier this year, Mr Bayford’s new fiancée, 46-year-old Tracey Biles, inspired him to plant a vineyard the size of six football pitches at his property.
But now, the pair have revealed plans to transform a further 20 acres of the vast estate into a ‘leisure destination’ aiming to provide families with ‘a fun, exciting and educational day out.’
The theme park, which the 53-year-old dad has stressed will be educational, would include a train ride, a renewable energy-themed play barn and a maze amongst a host of other fun-filled activities.
Mr Bayford is a father of two (Picture: Bav Media)Mr Bayford, who has two children of his own, also hopes his estate will be home to five outdoor play zones, sensory trails and pond-dipping.
It is estimated that, if completed and opened, the park could create 13 full-time jobs with an education centre teaching youngsters about sustainability.
A planning statement submitted by Strutt & Parker reads: ‘The vision is for the development to become a highly regarded and well-known leisure destination which provides a fun, exciting and educational day out.
‘Throughout the wider estate, the applicant is looking to provide outdoor experiences which build on social value, heath and wellbeing across five different play zones which will be created using sustainably sourced materials.’
Mr Bayfords estate sits close to the border of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk (Picture: Bav Media)
The theme park would take up 20 acres of his estate (Picture: Bav Media)The EuroMillions winner believes his new park could have huge benefits economically for the local area, not only through the jobs created but by offering a range of commercial units on the site aimed at local entrepreneurs.
If planning permission is approved, construction is expected to take between two and three years to complete.
The leisure destination, which is set to have a 90-space car park, would be open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, including bank holidays.
Mr Bayford proposed to fiancée Tracey last Christmas and the couple are due to get married overseas.
Friends of the duo have said that, although Bayford is the face of the project, it’s really Tracey behind the plans.
The Sun were told: ‘Adrian’s totally supportive, but this is really Tracey’s baby.’
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